Waltham, MA, January 23, 2025 — A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) analyzes recent changes in the composition of the medical workforce. These changes, including medical provider shortages and an increase in the demand for health care, may affect care for injured workers.

“Timely access to care is important for workers recovering from injuries,” said Sebastian Negrusa, vice president of research at WCRI. “Provider shortages can cause delays in treatment, longer recovery times, and higher workers’ compensation costs. These challenges were particularly noticeable during the pandemic and continue to be a concern.”

The study, Changes in the Medical Workforce and Impact on Claims, reviewed workers’ compensation data from 2013 to 2022 and addressed questions such as the following:

• How has workers’ access to primary care physicians, as opposed to nurse practitioners or physician assistants, changed since 2013, including during the pandemic?
• Did the use of advanced practitioners (nurse practitioners and physician assistants) instead of physicians vary across states and between urban and rural areas?
• How did the increases in the number of advanced practitioners impact claim costs, disability duration, and types of care provided?

The study uses data from the WCRI Detailed Benchmark/Evaluation (DBE) database, which includes information on workers’ compensation claims, medical care payments, income benefits, and detailed billing data from insurers, state funds, and self-insured employers.

For more information or to purchase the study, visit www.wcrinet.org. The report was authored by Drs. Bogdan Savych and Olesya Fomenko.

About WCRI:

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is an independent, non-profit research organization based in Waltham, MA. Established in 1983, WCRI remains neutral on the issues it investigates, providing objective information from studies and data collection efforts that adhere to recognized scientific methods. Rigorous, impartial peer review procedures further ensure objectivity. WCRI’s diverse membership includes employers, insurers, government entities, managed care organizations, health care providers, insurance regulators, state labor groups, and state administrative agencies across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

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